Social Policy Resource Centre

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Speakers For Conference

Dr. Richard Kozul-Wright

Director, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Geneva, Switzerland

Profile
Dr. Richard Kozul-Wright
Dr. Richard Kozul-Wright is Director of the Globalization and Development Strategies Division in UNCTAD. He has worked at the United Nations in both New York and Geneva. He holds a Ph.D in economics from the University of Cambridge UK. He has published widely on economic issues including, inter alia, in the Economic Journal, the Cambridge Journal of Economics, The Journal of Development Studies, and the Oxford Review of Economic Policy. He is the author of The Resistible Rise of Market Fundamentalism (with Paul Rayment) and The Case for a New Bretton Woods (with Kevin Gallagher) and is a co-editor of the Oxford Handbook on Industrial Policy. He has written widely in newspapers including the Financial Times, the Guardian, Le Monde, El Pais, China Daily, Project Syndicate, Open Democracy.

Dr. Safdar Sohail

Executive Director, Social Policy Resource Centre (SPRC), Author of the study

Profile
Dr. Safdar Sohail
Dr. Safdar Sohail, former Special Secretary Cabinet, belongs to the 1984 batch of Commerce and Trade Service and carries a Ph. D. in Sociology from France. He established Social Protection Resource Centre in 2020. Green Industrialization Development Collective is hosted at SPRC at the SPRC Centre for Studies in Globalization and Development. [SIGAD] Dr. Sohail was the principle author of Draft National Sustainable Strategy of Pakistan in 2009 and of Strategic Trade Policy Framework 2009-12 & 2012-2015. He has served as DG Trade Policy, Ministry of Commerce and Economic Minister to EU in Brussels. He has been Convenor of CPEC Joint Working Group on Industrial Cooperation and Pakistan's lead negotiator on CPEC Long Term Plan. He volunteers his time for the joint initiative of Ministries of Health and Human Rights to make Islamabad Capital Territory a better place to live for the persons with disabilities and elderly. He is also the Convenor of Islamabad Club Library and Literary Committee.

Mr. Abbas Raza Shah

CEO, Engineering Development Board, Ministry of Industries and Production, Government of Pakistan

Profile
Mr. Abbas Raza Shah
Mr. Abbas Raza Shah has professional experience of more than 30 years in strategic planning, policy making, management, marketing, and corporate governance in the public as well as private sectors in Pakistan. Provided leadership to major public sector technology organizations and led development of national policies for the engineering and technology sectors. In addition to full time and consultancy activities in the areas of engineering, technology, ICT and Digital inclusion / transformation, have supported various international development organizations in their developmental activities in Pakistan.

Dr. Aman Ullah

Joint Chief Economist, Planning & Development Board, Government of Punjab, Lahore

Profile
Dr. Amanullah Khan
Dr. Aman holds a Ph.D. from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and M.Phil. in Economics from Quaid-i-Azam University. He is the author of several Publications and recipient of many scholarships and grants. He writes economic articles for the leading newspapers including Express Tribune, DAWN, and The News. Currently, Dr. Aman is serving as Joint Chief Economist, P&D Board. Dr. Aman has held various important positions in P&D Board; Chief Economist, Director of Punjab Economic Research Institute, and Programme Director, R&D Fund for Academia along with being the Focal Person of Government of the Punjab for SDGs, CPEC, SIFC and Growth Strategy. Dr. Aman has a diverse experience in the public sector. He is a visiting faculty member at the Government College University, Lahore, and taught various courses at the University of Auckland, Quaid-i-Azam University, and SZABIST Islamabad. Before joining the Government of Punjab, he worked with the Planning Commission of Pakistan for many years.

Mr. Muhammad Sajjad Moghal

CEO, Classical International Trading, Lahore

Profile
Mr. Muhammad Sajjad Moghal
Mr. Mohammad Sajjad Moghal is a seasoned entrepreneur, business strategist, and private sector development (PSD) specialist, with over 25 years of experience in designing and implementing innovative financing solutions for the decarbonization of manufacturing processes. He is currently the CEO of Classic International Trading - CIT, a profitable and fast-growing start-up that offers industrial chemicals trading and indenting services in Pakistan and beyond. With a strong academic background and a deep understanding of the global policy and economic environment, Mr. Moghal is a recognized expert and leader in the field of sustainable development goals (SDGs). He has won several international awards and authored Pakistan's national SME policy and the first implementation plan. He is passionate about creating positive social and environmental impact through his work and partnerships, and driving phenomenal growth in the industrial chemicals trading sector.

Dr. Gul Unal

UNCTAD Geneva

Profile
Dr. Gul Unal
Dr. Fatma Gül ÜNAL is a senior economist in the Division on Globalization and Development Strategies. Prior to joining UNCTAD, she served as a Senior Regional Macroeconomic Advisor for Africa (UNECA), and as an economist at UNWOMEN and UNDP. She has publications on the issues of rural development, gender, and agriculture. She is the author of the book: “Land Ownership Inequality and Rural Factor Markets in Turkey: A Study for Critically Evaluating Market Friendly Reforms”.

Dr. Syed M. Hasan

Associate Professor,Department of Economic, Lahore University f Management Sciences,  Lahore

Profile
Dr. Syed M. Hasan
Dr. Syed M Hasan is currently Associate Professor at LUMS in the Department of Economics. Dr. Hasan holds a PhD in Economics from Ohio State University. His doctoral research is based on spatial policy instruments and firm’s productivity. He also has several publications to his name in top-tier journals. His foremost research interests comprise urban and regional economics. Given his profound interest in sustainable development, Dr. Hasan has also conducted research on resilient cities. His primary focus of interest in this field includes water conservation, economic cost of congestion and energy consumption choices at household level etc. Apart from his academic journey, previously he has also served in civil service of Pakistan.

Mr. Omar Masood

CEO, Urban Unit, Government of Punjab, Lahore

Profile
Mr. Omar Masood
Mohammad Omar Masud is serving as the CEO Urban Unit since June 2020. He has worked as Additional Secretary of Budget in the Finance Department Government of Punjab, dealing with provincial and municipal budgets. Before that he was Assistant Commissioner Nowshera, where he worked as a sub-divisional magistrate. At the Urban Unit, he is managing a team of over 150 professionals working on different aspects of urbanization and advising different levels of governments in Pakistan. Currently he is focusing on how urban data can be made an effective urban policy and action instrument at the city, local and regional level. He is a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. His thesis at MIT was on smartphones in bureaucracy of the Punjab. He also has a Masters in Public Policy from Princeton University, USA Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

Dr. Ajaz Ahmad

Director Research, Social Policy Resource Centre (SPRC), Islamabad

Profile
Dr. Ajaz Ahmad
Dr Ajaz Ahmed is an accomplished academic with a PhD in Economics from Durham University, UK. He is trained in applied economic policy research and works in areas such as sustainable agriculture, water conservation, climate change, energy, and public transport, among others. Dr Ajaz has a track record of conducting high social-impact research. He has demonstrated his ability to generate income by independently securing several competitive research grants. While he has peer-reviewed research publications to his credit, Dr Ajaz also contributes to the Dawn which is one of the most widely read English daily newspapers in Pakistan.

Dr. Bashir Ahmad

Director Climate Energy & Water Research Institute (CEWRI) in Pakistan Agriculture Research Council.

Profile
Dr. Bashir Ahmad
Dr. Bashir Ahmad is a professional hydrologist with more than 25 years of professional experience in research, academia and consultancy services. Currently, he is serving as Director Climate Energy & Water Research Institute (CEWRI) in Pakistan Agriculture Research Council. He has been serving Pakistan Agriculture Research Council in various capacities including Director Water, Director Environment, Director Dams Command Area in PARC. His areas of interest are investigation of impact of climate change on water resources and agriculture, Climate change and food security, hydrological modeling, irrigation and water management and alternate energy in agriculture etc. Dr. Bashir Ahmad has developed and executed 25 projects (International-10, National -15). He is currently implementing 03 regional projects. He has more than 70 publications in international journals, 01 book, 06 book chapters, 10 policy papers etc.

Mr. Abid Raza Khan

Incharge Department of Business and Economics, Punjab University, Lahore

Profile
Mr. Abid Raza Khan
Mr. Abid Raza Khan is an economist, currently pursuing his PhD dissertation from The New School for Social Research, Newyork, USA. He has research expertise in different areas of economy including economic growth and distribution, consumption inequality and Entrepreneurial ecosystems. He has experience of teaching at many prestigious institutes including; lectureship in University of Southern Maine (USA), Teaching Fellowship at the Lang College (USA), adjunct lectureship at the CUNY John Jay College for Criminal Justice. He is also a visiting lecturer at SDSB, Lahore University of Management Sciences.

Mr. Khalid Mahmood

Executive Director, Master Textiles, Lahore

Profile
Mr. Khalid Mahmood
Mr. Khalid had been working as an Executive Director , of large and vertically integrated textile company in Lahore, Pakistan- Master Textile Mills Limited. Has about 26 years experience of textiles management and marketing, about 10 years experience in FMCG Marketing and five years experience as management consultant for economic growth, supply chain management and international trade development for USAID, ADB, GTZ etc. Columnist in 2nd largest Urdu newspaper in Pakistan - Daily Express. Appear in TV Talk shows as Analyst.

Mr. Syed Haider Shah

Additional Secretary UN, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad

Profile
Mr. Syed Haider Shah
A member of Foreign Service of Pakistan since 1995, having served in Islamabad, New York, New Delhi, Kathmandu and now based in Islamabad , Pakistan. In addition to diplomatic experience, I got an LL.M. from Harvard Law School (1998), a post graduate diploma in International Law and Organization for Development (ILOD-2000) from ISS, The Hague, and the foundational Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Khyber Law College, Peshawar University (1993).

Mr. Mohsin Chandna

DG Debt, Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan

Profile
Mr. Mohsin Chandna
An officer of Pakistan Administrator Service with blend of experience at home and Pakistan Mission abroad. He retired in BS-22 as Federal Secretary IT after over thirty-four years of Government service. He holds the degree of Master of Public Policy from University of Chicago as well as Master of Business Administration from Institute of Business Administration (IBA) Karachi. Mr. Mohsin has previously worked as Secretary at Ministries of Information Technology and Inter Provincial Coordination. He has also worked as Special Secretary, Ministry of Finance where he was heading Debt and Budget Wings. He has also served as Economic Minister in Embassy of Pakistan, Washington DC for over five years where his major responsibility was to liaise with IFIs and US Administration and keep them abreast of Government’s economic policies. He has also served as DG NIM Karachi and Secretary Planning at the Government of Sindh. Mr Mohsin has taught thirty-five courses of Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Contemporary Issues in Global Economics, Managerial Economics and Issues in Pakistan Economy to BBA and MBA students at IBA Karachi. He has also been delivering lectures on Project Management, Program Monitoring and Evaluation, Negotiation Skills and Decision Making and Change Management. Furthermore, he is a Certified BCURE Trainer.

Dr. Nadeem Javaid

Professor of Economics & Strategy, Karachi School of Business and Leadership, former Chief Economist Planning Commission of Pakistan

Profile
Dr. Nadeem Javaid
Dr. Nadeem Javaid has an experience of over 20 years comprising teaching, research, consulting, central banking, and policymaking. He served as the Chief Economist of Government of Pakistan with the responsibility to advise the highest decision making forums such as Central Development Working Party (CDWP), Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC), National Economic Council (NEC) and Federal Cabinet. He also supervised the Investment programing of around 1300 projects pertaining to Social Development, Higher Education, IT, Energy Sector, Governance and Infrastructure with an annual development budget of Rs 800 billion and a through-forward of Rs 6.5 Trillion.

Mr. Bilal Anwar

CEO, National Disaster Risk Management Fund, government of Pakistan

Profile
Mr. Bilal Anwar
Mr.Bilal Anwar is the CEO of National Disaster Risk Management Fund and an international climate policy practitioner. Previously he served in United Nations, The Commonwealth and private sector in shaping up the international climate finance mechanisms, carbon financing and carbon market regimes. Implemented some global scale climate change and sustainable development projects in many parts of world.

Mr. Ahmad Ammar Yassar

Chief of Party, Pakistan Private Sector Energy Activity, UNIDO, Islamabad

Profile
Mr. Ahmad Ammar Yassar​
Mr. Ahmed Ammar Yasser is a Licensed Professional Engineer working in the areas of clean energy, and industrial productivity sector since 2007. He has worked on more than 25 projects (including 5 mega projects having more than 25 beneficiaries) with accumulative power generation/saving, demand release impact of 700+ MW. I have been instrumental in the establishment of Pakistan's 1st Solar Energy Service Company. He has authored proposals that have won grants through international competitive processes from agencies such as EU, World Bank, USAID, PSI, etc. resulting in securing US$10.3 million worth of grants. Currently, as Chief of Party for Private Finance Advisory Network, he is helping a pipeline of 48 clean energy projects of US$ 480+ million to achieve financial closure.

Dr. Noman Ahmed

Professor and Dean, Faculty of Architecture and Management Sciences, NED University, Karachi

Profile
Dr. Noman Ahmed
Professor Dr Noman Ahmed is an architect and planner by profession. He obtained his Masters degree in city planning from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. He also obtained postgraduate training in Urban and Regional Planning from the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), Nagoya, Japan and Centre for Housing and Urban Development Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, USA. Noman obtained his Ph.D. from Loughborough University, UK. He has undertaken several self motivated research studies on developmental issues including infrastructural planning and management and has been a consultant to many NGOs, CBOs and government organizations in Pakistan and abroad. He has also published several reports,monographs and papers on different relevant topics and subjects. His recent book titled "Water Supply in Karachi: Issues and Prospects" is published by Oxford University.